Page 18 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 6-5-15

June 5, 2015 308TH FS GRADUATION Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
18 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

Emerald Knights graduate 16 new pilots

by Lt. Col. Courtesy photo teach these students how to be
CHRISTOPHER BACON ÀJKWHUSLORWVLQWKHDLUDQGLQOLIH
The 308th Fighter Squadron graduated 16 F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots today from Class 14-EBG. as did the academic instructors
308th Fighter Squadron They are, from left, 1st Lt. Tony Demma, Capt. Taylor Roach, 1st Lts. Matt Sanders, Dave Neville IURPWKHWK7UDLQLQJ6TXDGURQ
and Richard Olsen, Capts. Bryan Koenig and Kent North, 1st Lts. Harrison Gebs and Drew Clasen,
Today marks the culmination Capt. Bradford Waldie, 1st Lts. Ravi Surdhar and Alexander Drummond, Capts. Tanner Lee and Lockheed Martin instructors
of nine months of demanding James Broncheau, 1st Lt. Ashton Lackey and Capt. Sky Villers. were an invaluable resource to the
aviation training for 16 students students as both a source of F-16
from the 308th Fighter Squadron PDQHXYHULQJ FDSDELOLW\ +HUH The students transitioned to 7KHFDSVWRQHRIFODVV(%*·V knowledge as well as a source of
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warriors will go forth as newly to learn current techniques for This phase of training consisted force exercise known as Opera- FRQÁLFWVPLVVLRQVRUWUDJHGLHVDOO
minted F-16 Fighting Falcon HPSOR\LQJWKH)LQRQHYRQH of surface attack, surface attack WLRQ (7(51$/ .1,*+7 7KLV of which helped to develop these
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QDWLRQ·VELGGLQJ SA, students learned to employ ÀJKWHUV DWWDFNLQJ D PXOWLWXGH RI SRUWDQWO\ (%* ZRXOG QRW EH
The students then began the unguided and guided weapons in targets while defending against where they are right now without
7KH MRXUQH\ WR Á\ WKH ZRUOG·V air-to-air phase, learning to employ a controlled environment, focus- eight adversary fighters and the dedication of the 308th Aircraft
most combat-proven aircraft was the F-16 as two-ship and four-ship ing on learning the numerous multiple simulated surface-to-air 0DLQWHQDQFH 8QLW 7KH WK
QRWHDV\,WFRQVLVWHGRIKRXUV WHDPV 6WXGHQWV ÁHZ DLU FRPEDW air-to-ground munitions in the WKUHDWV7KHSODQQLQJDQGH[HFX- AMU works long hours and many
of academic lectures and computer- maneuvering operating as an ele- ) LQYHQWRU\ ,Q 6$7 VWXGHQWV tion of this mission was invaluable weekends a year to keep some of
based training with nine demand- ment in visual engagements two built on the attack mechanics they DQGSURYLGHGDWDVWHRIFRPEDW the oldest F-16s in the Air Force
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nearly 51 hours executing 41 employ as an element in beyond missionized or real-world aspects of These fighter pilots did not
challenging simulators, learning to visual range engagements during WDFWLFDOÁ\LQJ,Q&$6WKHVWXGHQWV JUDGXDWH RQ WKHLU RZQ KRZHYHU 7RWKHVWXGHQWVRI(%*QRZ
handle emergency procedures and WDFWLFDO LQWHUFHSW WUDLQLQJ 7KH integrated with ground forces and %HKLQG (%* ZDV DQ HQWLUH is the time to remember the tough
executing air-to-air and air-to-sur- students progressed to four-ship provided support in a dynamic en- ÀJKWHU ZLQJ RUJDQL]DWLRQV DQG lessons learned in debrief, the sto-
IDFHWDFWLFV7KHPRVWFKDOOHQJLQJ employment, solidifying their roles vironment while the enemy was in people were paramount to their ries of those who have been there,
DQGUHZDUGLQJSDUWRIWKHLUMRXUQH\ and responsibilities as wingmen in FORVHSUR[LPLW\WRIULHQGOLHV VXFFHVV(PHUDOG.QLJKWLQVWUXF- and the experiences you picked up
came when they strapped on the WKHPRVWOHWKDORI)IRUPDWLRQV tor pilots worked many hours to RYHUWKHODVWÁLJKWKRXUV&RQ-
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Flight training began with the and Honor!”
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learned how to take off and land, Capt. James Broncheau
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understanding of how the F-16
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evaluation where the students
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Next was advanced handling
where students learned the F-16’s

1st Lt. Drew Clasen 1st Lt. Tony Demma 1st Lt. Alexander Drummond 1st Lt. Harrison Gebs Capt. Bryan Koenig
Peachtree City, Georgia Knob Noster, Missouri Tulsa, Oklahoma Richmond, Virginia Simi Valley, California
Kunsan AB, South Korea Spangdahlem AB, Germany Kunsan AB, South Korea
Tulsa Air National Guard Kunsan AB, South Korea

1st Lt. Ashton Lackey Capt. Tanner Lee 1st Lt. Dave Neville Capt. Kent North 1st Lt. Richard Olsen
Leona, Kansas Moorhead, Minnesota Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Charlottesville, Virginia Salt Lake City, Utah
Duluth ANG, Minnesota Kunsan AB, South Korea Shaw AFB, South Carolina Spangdahlem AB, Germany
Madison ANG, Kansas

Capt. Taylor Roach 1st Lt. Matt Sanders 1st Lt. Ravi Surdhar Capt. Sky Villers Capt. Bradford Waldie
Vale, Colorado Annapolis, Maryland Longmont, Colorado Fort Wayne, Indiana 3KRHQL[$UL]RQD
Osan AB, South Korea Osan AB, South Korea
Shaw AFB, South Carolina Hill AFB, Utah Aviano AB, Italy